The latest Napolitan News survey has something for everyone to like - and hate - on the topic of immigration. In isolation, the responses can seem completely contradictory: a majority like birthright citizenship, but a plurality support a constitutional amendment to end it. And yet, just 39% would support a candidate with that view.
What does it all mean?
Before jumping in, let's review the basics.
The Deeper Currents
Voters have overwhelmingly supported legal immigration (and opposed illegal immigration) for decades. Seven in 10 (69%) hold this stance. The most recent Napolitan survey on the topic found that just 10% oppose legal immigration, and only 16% support illegal immigration. Put it all together, and 85% of voters say legal immigration is good, and 79% of voters say illegal immigration is bad.
In a similar vein, voters generally support birthright citizenship. Just 32% oppose granting it to children of illegal immigrants. Fifty-eight percent (58%) believe that anyone born in the US should automatically be a US citizen. While more than 8 in 10 Democrats support it, Traditional GOP voters favor the idea by a narrow margin (47% to 44%).
A majority of voters (53%) also favor allowing the child of a pregnant woman born in the U.S. to be a citizen if the mother has been working in the country for 6 months. However, there is a significant partisan divide on this question: 78% of Democrats say the child should be considered a U.S. citizen, while 59% of Republicans say the child should be a citizen of the mother's home country.
Perceived Popular and Partisan Views
Despite the general support for birthright citizenship, just 43% of voters say that is the view of a majority of Americans. Interestingly, voters who prefer Trump policies are the only group in our 4-Way Choice question who believe a majority support denying citizenship to children of illegal immigrants. Traditional GOP voters are split on the question, while both wings of the Democratic party overwhelmingly believe a majority prefer birthright citizenship.
Views of the parties are well-entrenched. Three quarters (74%) of voters believe that a majority of Democrats support birthright citizenship for everyone, while 62% of voters say a majority of Republicans oppose it for children of illegal immigrants.
The Finer Points
Voters are split on the question of granting citizenship to a child born to a pregnant woman here on vacation. Still, 45% say the child should be granted citizenship, and 41% say the child should be a citizen of the mother's home country.
On the topic of a constitutional amendment to deny citizenship for children of illegal immigrants, 47% favor it, while 43% oppose it. The number who Strongly Support the idea and the number who Strongly Oppose it are identical (29%), leaving the rest lukewarm.
Still, voters are leery of putting that amendment into practice. While 47% favored an amendment to deny citizenship, just 39% would support a candidate who supported such an amendment. This may be another sign of the lack of trust in Congress. Currently, just 29% say Congress supports our nations founding ideals of freedom, equality, and self-governance.
The Conclusion
Looked at as a whole, the results show general support for birthright citizenship, tempered by a desire for a healthy response to Biden's incredibly unpopular border polices. Just one third (33%) say Biden had a better approach to immigration than Trump. However, voters have concerns that changes may be abused.
